U.S : ANOTHER EPIDEMIC CRISIS !

Dear friend,

There is another epidemic that is endangering lives, and not enough people are talking about it : domestic violence is on the rise across the country.¹

Crime statistics have plummeted in every major city after nationwide lockdowns, but there has been a sharp, alarming rise in domestic and sexual violence as shelters and service providers scramble to set up remote services while dealing with a loss of funding and huge budget cuts.² 

Make no mistake : this is an EMERGENCY. And thousands of us need to demand Congress take action in the next COVID-19 relief bill so there is no choice but to hear us. 

Will you add your name demanding Congress address the domestic and sexual violence crisis in the next relief bill? 

Tell Congress :  "Fund critical domestic and sexual violence services  during the COVID-19 pandemic."

Sign the petition

The COVID-19 pandemic has amplified this crisis in innumerable ways--survivors are forced to stay home with their abusers to comply with shelter-in-place orders, they are afraid to seek help for fear of contracting the coronavirus, and they face limited options as shelters deal with budget cuts and lost funding during a national recession.³

The United Nations  just released a report warning that several more months of lockdown measures could lead to more than 30 million more cases of domestic violence worldwide.⁴ That is UNACCEPTABLE. 

Women are "whispering to avoid being heard by their partner in the room next-door," and they are using code words at pharmacies.⁵ They are getting hurt but avoiding the emergency room because of fears of contracting the coronavirus.⁶ They are no longer able to seek refuge with family members because of fears of exposing vulnerable populations.⁷ 

We need to tackle this crisis. Congress must provide emergency funding so that domestic violence shelters and services can amplify remote help, secure additional space to provide safe shelters with social distancing, and help survivors secure unemployment assistance, protection from immigration enforcement when they seek help, and other critical measures.^8,9 

But Congress needs to act NOW. Members of Congress are discussing the next coronavirus relief bill right this moment, and we need to make sure critical funding for domestic violence services is part of the plan.

Will you add your name demanding Congress provide emergency funding to fight the domestic and sexual violence crisis during the COVID-19 pandemic?

Thanks for speaking out !

Shaunna, Kat, Kathy, Anathea, Sonja, Melody, Lindsay, Pam, Maria, Kimberly, and Katie, the UltraViolet team

Sources :

1. A New Covid-19 Crisis: Domestic Abuse Rises Worldwide, The New York Times, April 6, 2020

2. Domestic violence has increased during coronavirus lockdowns, The Economist, April 22, 2020

3. As Cities Around the World Go on Lockdown, Victims of Domestic Violence Look for a Way Out, Time, March 18, 2020

4. UN warns 6 months of coronavirus lockdowns could lead to 31M cases of domestic violence, The Hill, April 28, 2020

5. Women are using code words at pharmacies to escape domestic violence during lockdown, CNN, April 6, 2020

6. As Cities Around the World Go on Lockdown, Victims of Domestic Violence Look for a Way Out, Time, March 18, 2020

7. Ibid.

8. Letter to Congress, National Task Force to End Sexual and Domestic Violence, accessed April 30, 2020

9. Women Demand More of Congress To Face COVID-19 Recession, National Women's Law Center, accessed April 30, 2020.

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